Grilles for air conditioning

Abstract

A grille for air conditioning for the instrument panel of an automobile is provided which includes a main case having an opening for blowing out a wind and a plurality of curvable wind direction adjusting plates supported so as to be rotatable relative to the main case. A support member supports the distal edges of the wind direction adjusting plates. The support member has extension plates respectively extending along an extending plane of the distal edge of each wind direction adjusting plate and coupling plates coupling the extension plates with each other. Each extension plate has a groove for receiving the distal edge which is not rotatable against the extension plate. The support member is movable on a circular locus relative to the main case, the arc having a shorter radius of curvature than a span between the two edges of the wind direction adjusting plate in an unstressed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A grille for air conditioning comprising: a main body case having an opening for blowing out a wind,   a plurality of curvable wind direction adjusting plates supported so as to be rotatable relative to said main body case, each of said wind direction adjusting plates having a proximal edge located at a downstream side of the wind and a distal edge located at an upstream side of the wind, both said edges extending in a plane substantially intersecting with a blowing direction of the wind,   a support member supporting said distal edges of said wind direction adjusting plates, said support member having extension plates respectively extending along an extending plane of said distal edge of each said wind direction adjusting plate and coupling plates coupling said extension plates with each other, said each extension plate having a groove for receiving said distal edge which is not rotatable relative to said extension plate,   moving means for moving said support member on a circular locus relative to said main body case, said arc having a shorter radius of curvature than a span between said two edges of said wind direction adjusting plate in an unstressed configuration.   
     
     
       2. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the grooves on said extension plates are provided substantially along the entire length of the extension plates. 
     
     
       3. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said end portions of the upstream sides of said flexible wind direction adjusting plates have protrusions that are received by the grooves on said extension plates, the connection between them being formed such that their surfaces are smooth when the flexible wind direction adjusting plates are connected to the extension plates. 
     
     
       4. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grooves on said wind extension plates are provided substantially along the entire length of the extension plates. 
     
     
       5. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the radius of curvature of said circular arc path and said span is within the range of 0.65-0.85 to 1. 
     
     
       6. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the ratio of the radius of curvature of said circular arc path and said span is 0.75 to 1. 
     
     
       7. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the moving means has a rod whose one end is connected to said supporting piece and the other end is connected to the main case, with said rod, said main case, and the supporting piece making up a parallel link and said radius of curvature being defined by the distance between the two ends of said rod. 
     
     
       8. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said downstream sides of said flexible wind direction adjusting plates have hard shafts. 
     
     
       9. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said hard shafts are supported by the main case at both ends, said rods are connected to the main case such that they are coaxial with the the hard shafts, and the rods are substantially sandwiched and maintained between said flexible wind direction adjusting plates and the main case. 
     
     
       10. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the upstream sides of the flexible wind direction adjusting plates have hard shafts. 
     
     
       11. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said main case is equipped with a plurality of secondary wind direction adjusting plates that rotatably support said hard shafts, said secondary wind direction adjusting plates extending in the direction perpendicular to said flexible wind direction adjusting plates and being located in the downstream side of the flexible wind direction adjusting plates. 
     
     
       12. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said main case is equipped with secondary wind direction adjusting plates, said secondary wind direction adjusting plates extending in a direction perpendicular to said flexible wind direction adjusting plates and located in the downstream side of the flexible wind direction adjusting plates; and said moving means has an operating means that is arranged substantially parallel to said flexible wind direction adjusting plates, one end of said operating means being an operating portion, the middle portion being engaged with one of the secondary wind direction adjusting plates, and the other end being engaged with said support member. 
     
     
       13. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said operating means comprises a knob slidably mounted to one of said secondary wind direction adjusting plates and an operating rod, one end of said operating rod being rotatably engaged with said knob, a middle portion being engaged with said secondary wind direction adjusting plate and the other end being engaged with said support member, said operating rod being movable in the direction of its length and pivotal relative to said secondary wind direction adjusting plate and said support member but not substantially movable with respect thereto in the direction of a width thereof. 
     
     
       14. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said operating rod has elongated holes in said other end and middle portion, said supporting piece has a shaft that engages with one of said elongated holes, and said secondary wind direction adjusting plate has a shaft that engages with said elongated hole. 
     
     
       15. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said secondary wind direction adjusting plate has a groove that extends in the direction of its length, and said knob has a protruding guide portion that engages with said groove. 
     
     
       16. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said end of the operating rod is engaged to said knob such that frictional forces are generated in a shaft made of elastic resin. 
     
     
       17. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said secondary wind direction adjusting plate has a groove that extends in the direction of its length, and said knob is provided with a push piece, said push piece having a shaft that engages with one end of said operating rod and protruding guide pieces that engage with the groove on said secondary wind direction adjusting plate. 
     
     
       18. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 13, where there is an odd number of said flexible wind direction adjusting plates greater than or equal to three, said knob is located in the middle portion of said secondary wind direction adjusting plate and has an arm that engages with one end of the operating rod, and the operating rod is located between said wind direction adjusting plates. 
     
     
       19. A grille for air conditioning, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said operating means essentially comprises an operating rod and a curved groove that is formed on said secondary wind direction adjusting plate, and has a protruding portion that engages with said groove, located on one end of said operating rod, with the middle portion of said operating rod being engaged with said secondary wind direction adjusting plate and the other end being engaged with said support member, said operating rod being substantially rotatable and movable in the direction of its length with respect to said secondary wind direction adjusting plate and said support member but not substantially movable in the direction of its width with respect thereto; one end of said operating rod protrudes from said secondary wind direction adjusting plate, and when the aforementioned one end of said operating rod is moved along the secondary wind direction adjusting plate, the amount of protrusion of the operating rod from the secondary wind direction adjusting plate is maintained essentially constant.